- 18 minutes ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00I never boo the Athletic.
00:01In fact, you know what I love about the Athletic is the little cheat sheet they give me every
00:05day about all the great stories that are going on in sports.
00:08You know what I love?
00:09We just launched a couple days ago a playoff.
00:14It's everything you ask in your head that is too confusing.
00:17It lays it out where it's like, if the Guardians go 4-0 the rest of the way, here's what
00:22will
00:22happen.
00:22If they go 3-1 and then it gives you the percentage chance of all that, it is like, it's
00:27a godsend.
00:28This stuff is confusing.
00:29It's very good.
00:29It is confusing with only four games to play.
00:33Wait, let me tip my cap to one more thing.
00:34One more thing I was going to tip my cap to.
00:36The Connections game, Sports Edition.
00:39That's an excellent game, too.
00:41Got a tip.
00:42Hey, riddle me this one, would you?
00:44Well, I just want to tell you, you are talking to one of the few chosen to be a tester
00:50of
00:50that game when it was in its beta phase.
00:52Wow.
00:54That's impressive right there.
00:56Have you seen any of your four-word connections come up?
01:00No.
01:00The four-letter words that I use are not allowed on there.
01:03Yeah, it's not four-letter.
01:04Four-word.
01:04So, I kind of get it, but, and I like Daniel Espino.
01:11Joey Cantillo's done just fine as a starter all year.
01:15Why are we suddenly opening for him?
01:18Well, he was, and then he wasn't, right?
01:20And he had just lost the mentality, I guess.
01:25This happened a little bit last year, too, where you just kind of go through the motions,
01:30and maybe it's because it's late in the season, and you're still kind of new at this, and the
01:35innings pile up, and you lose your mechanics, and you're not really sure how to get them
01:40back on track.
01:40So, let me take you 12 years into the past, and remember, Carlos Carrasco, he was a big
01:47piece of the Cliff Lee trade, and he was supposed to be this front-line starting pitcher, and
01:51in 2009, he debuted, and it wasn't working, and then he had Tommy John surgery, and then
01:56he came back, and it wasn't working, and it wasn't working, and it's 2014, and it's time
02:01to you-know-what or get off the pot, and it wasn't working.
02:06And they were really perplexed as to what the issue was, so they sent him to the bullpen,
02:11and they said, look, just go out there and throw strikes.
02:14Attack the strike zone, and do it for an inning or two, and he did that.
02:18And then as time went on, they built him up, and he just kept that reliever mentality, but
02:23he was doing it for three innings, then four, then five, and then he returned to the rotation
02:28and never looked back.
02:29And he, like, when he was a starting pitcher again, he still pitched from the stretch,
02:35and he had that mentality of, I just need to pound the strike zone.
02:39And I think that's been the key for Cantillo.
02:42When he throws strikes, his stuff's really good, and guys swing and miss a ton, but he
02:47is, for whatever reason, in that starting mode, just kind of lost the zone, and he can't reel
02:52it in, and he's had a bunch of starts, you know, in August and early September, where
02:56it was like, you know, he wouldn't give up a ton of hits, but he'd have five, six, seven
03:00walks.
03:02So they've tried this twice now with him, and he's thrown 10 scoreless innings.
03:06So I think they don't want to mess with the mojo.
03:08It's just, who can you pitch right in front of him?
03:13Espino was awesome the first time, and awful the second time, and, you know, they're looking
03:17ahead to the playoffs, too, and thinking, after Messick and Williams, what do we have?
03:22You know, it's been a rough year for Tanner Bybee, Foster Griffin is, you know, doing a
03:27little bit of a Houdini act there last night, but, like, do you feel confident in him in
03:32a playoff game?
03:33So they're trying to find a formula, and this is the one that they think they like, but
03:37they need to see more of.
03:39Any, should I read anything into Daniel starting?
03:44Because, obviously, he used to be a starter before all of his injuries, and then they brought
03:48him back in the bullpen.
03:48And they're not just throwing him out there to kind of put him in a starter mentality,
03:53are they?
03:53No, it's just because he's had that before.
03:56Okay.
03:56Right?
03:57So, you know, if you're going to ask, you wouldn't ask, like, Tim Heron to go be the opener.
04:04But Espino's been a starter.
04:06He can't pitch every day because he missed four years thanks to shoulder surgeries.
04:10So, it helps him to have a regimented schedule anyway.
04:15So, and he's got electric stuff.
04:17So, like, he fits the profile of the perfect kind of guy you'd want in this role.
04:22He's just got to throw strikes, too.
04:24He did the first time, and he did it the second time.
04:26But, like, his future, that's still up in the air.
04:29Those are conversations that they have to have after the season.
04:32You know, it's a huge success what he's been able to do this year, given how much time
04:37he missed, and they've got to figure out, like, what can his arm handle moving forward.
04:42But for now, can you get an inning or two and set the table for your bulk guy?
04:49What is your gut?
04:50Is it going to be wild card, or is it going to be central?
04:53My gut is just a freaking mess.
04:56I don't know.
04:59It's just turmoil.
05:01I think there are a lot of, like, weird wrinkles here, right?
05:08Like, they could clinch tonight before they even take the field.
05:11The Rangers play this afternoon, and if they lose, Guardians clinch a playoff spot.
05:15But you can't take your foot off the accelerator because the difference between the wild card
05:21and the division title has never been more immense.
05:25Whoever gets the two-seed, whoever wins the division, is truly going to have, like, the
05:30coziest path to the World Series that I can ever remember.
05:35I mean, you're going to host, you would host, you'd get five days off, and then you would
05:40host either the White Sox, the Rangers, or the Astros in the division series.
05:44And if you win that, you play one AL East team, and then that's it.
05:48If you survive that best of seven, you're in the World Series.
05:50So the difference between that and then, you know, if you're, you throw Parker Messick
05:56Sunday, knowing that if it doesn't work out and you don't win the division, then you're
06:01in the wild card series, and you might not have Messick unless he throws on short rest,
06:05and you got to go on the road again and play someone in a best of three, which is always
06:09a coin flip.
06:10And if you win that, then you go on the road to the division.
06:12I mean, it's like the two paths here could not be more extreme.
06:17So my gut doesn't mean anything at this point.
06:20I have no idea what's going to happen.
06:22It's been a weird season.
06:23Everybody seems to win on the same days and lose on the same days, too.
06:27You know, all four of these teams kind of trying to fight for their playoff lives lost last
06:32night.
06:33No one could take advantage.
06:34So I just know from the Guardian standpoint, it would really help them breathe a little
06:40bit if the White Sox could lose one more.
06:43But, you know, they get the Royals today, and then they get the Rockies over the weekend.
06:47So I think you're just going to have to take care of your own business.
06:49Here's another fun tidbit for you, too.
06:52If Tampa loses to the Red Sox or the Yankees and we would go on to win the division series,
06:58we'd be the home team for the ALCS, too, because you're the higher seed.
07:04Oh, you're saying if...
07:05Yeah.
07:05Let's just...
07:06I mean, you'd be the...
07:07You'd be the...
07:08Yeah, you'd be the ALCS home team, too, there.
07:10Wow.
07:11Look, I know part of this is, like, the American League stinks this year, and it's been very
07:16beneficial, but it's not like the Guardian...
07:19You know, and there have been past years where the Central has stunk and the Guardians kind
07:22of, you know, sleepwalk to a division title, and then they lose in the playoffs, and it's
07:26like, okay, well, like, how good were you actually?
07:30A lot of the American League stinks this year.
07:32It's not just the Guardians, okay?
07:34So, if they can take advantage, if they can capitalize on this, then kudos to them.
07:39So, you're not messing with the rotation then, right?
07:42Even if they clinch a playoff spot tonight.
07:46Yeah, I mean, I think the way you...
07:48You know, they are taking this a day at a time, obviously, like, they're planning...
07:53You know, they tell these guys what the scenarios are.
07:56I would think Gavin Williams would go tomorrow, just so he's lined up for a game.
08:01Two of the Wild Card Series, if you need it.
08:04Messick knows, like, he might pitch Sunday, if they need that game.
08:09You know, he could pitch Tuesday, if they're in the Wild Card, and he doesn't go Sunday.
08:13Or he could not pitch for another week and a half, you know, if they get the buy.
08:18So, it's...
08:19Everything is just dependent on everything else, and there's no way to really plan.
08:24You know, you can plan, but you're planning a million different scenarios.
08:30I know we were looking at the playoffs just ahead.
08:33But, I'm looking further down the road.
08:35Give me your thoughts on the three guys, four guys they picked up at the trade deadline.
08:40On whether they'll be back next year.
08:42Adele's under contract.
08:43I would assume he's back and playing somewhere in the outfield, correct?
08:48I love it.
08:48You know, you try to talk to the Guardians about, like, what's at stake, what's ahead of them.
08:54And all I've heard for weeks is taking it one day at a time and controlling what you can control.
08:59And here comes Jeff wanting to talk about 2027.
09:02I'm pumped.
09:04I'm pumped.
09:05Would you try to sign Foster Griffin?
09:09It's interesting, right?
09:10Yeah.
09:11They...
09:12Look, he's probably pitched...
09:15Well, I was going to say a little over his skis, but we just don't know enough about him.
09:19And people don't realize he's still technically a rookie, even though he debuted in 2020.
09:25But then he went.
09:27In his Major League debut, his elbow tore.
09:30So he had to have Tommy John.
09:32Came back.
09:33Bounced around a little bit.
09:34Went to Japan for three years.
09:36And now he's back.
09:37So it's the longest rookie season in world history.
09:41But he's, like, he's had a really good year.
09:43And I wonder, you know, the Guardians don't have a ton of starting pitching depth that's, like, ready in the
09:49upper levels of the minors.
09:50So it wouldn't be the worst idea.
09:52And I don't think he'd cost you a ton just because...
09:55I don't either.
09:56Yeah.
09:56People don't know that much about him.
09:58He's had one year, so...
09:59Yeah.
10:00So it's a really weird scenario.
10:01He's still technically a rookie, but he can be a free agent.
10:04So I'd be interested in it.
10:06You know, who knows?
10:07They might have to spend some money to hit his salary floor, too.
10:11You know, I'm guessing this is just a couple months in Cleveland, and then it's on to somewhere else for
10:16Nate Lowe, just because they have Manzardo and they have Ralphie Velasquez.
10:21Joe Adele has a year of team control left, and they've been looking for right-handed power for, like, 25
10:26years.
10:27So I think they love what he's brought.
10:31I think that they feel there's even more for him to tap into, just getting away from Anaheim.
10:37I mean, he's fascinating because it's...
10:39He's never experienced this.
10:40I asked him, I said, what's the biggest game you've ever played in?
10:44And it was his first year of pro ball, 2017, for the Orem Owls in Utah.
10:51Wow.
10:51A level of minor league ball that doesn't even exist anymore, and they advanced to the playoffs.
10:58But that's, you know, you're with the Angels, you're accustomed to losing, and in September, you're making tea times and
11:04vacation plans, and now he's part of something where it's fun every day.
11:09And so I think that union, they love him, and I think he's happy being here.
11:15And so I'd expect him to stick around for at least next season, too.
11:20If this team gets in to the playoffs, and I think we all assume that they will in some way,
11:26shape, or form, division or wild card, do they have the pitching where they could be the surprise team?
11:35They have, like, the baseline ingredients, right?
11:39You've got two starting pitchers in Williams and Messick who can go toe-to-toe with anybody.
11:46So they're going to pitch a lot.
11:49You've got as good of a closer as exists, and a guy who has shown he can throw multiple innings.
11:56So you're just thinking about how do you cover innings of a series?
11:59Well, you're going to lean on those three guys.
12:02I think Stephen Vogt trusts Hunter Gaddis and Eric Zebrowski and Tim Heron.
12:08It feels like they're a reliever short.
12:11That's where Colin Holderman was the guy for a lot of the season, but he's still sidelined.
12:19And then they need to answer that third starting pitcher question, too.
12:23So, yeah, I would say they have enough to make a run.
12:27Those guys have to be really good.
12:29You know, you can't – if Messick or Williams has an uncharacteristic clunker, you're probably in some trouble.
12:38But they have like the – we saw this team in 16, and I don't want to – you know,
12:43that was a magical run.
12:45You don't want to just compare everything to 10 years ago.
12:48But did you think that pitching staff without Carrasco and Salazar had what it took?
12:53You know, they were getting insane performances from Kluber and Tomlin and obviously Miller and Allen and the rest of
13:01the bullpen.
13:01But it's kind of the same thing.
13:03You know, you've got two horses in the rotation, and you've got a back end of the bullpen you like.
13:08And it's just – can you get like 90% of your innings out of those guys?
13:12If you can, maybe it's good enough.
13:14I got a fun one for you here, Zach.
13:16We didn't have a chance to talk about this, and I was going to bring it up yesterday.
13:19I totally forgotten.
13:20Dan, you might want to plug yours in on this one too.
13:22Do you remember during the game two days ago against the Red Sox when, you know, there was a runner
13:27at third,
13:27there's two outs, and Austin Hedges is catching, right?
13:31And Caleb Durbin was at the plate.
13:34And it's just the middle of the at-bat.
13:36The ball rolls out of Hedges' glove after the pitch.
13:42And Durbin just taps the ball back to Hedges.
13:48And at first I didn't think anything of it.
13:50And then when I watched Hedges stand up, I was like, he's right, man.
13:53That's interference because there's a runner at third.
13:56But they talked about it, and then they decided when it was all said and done just to continue the
14:02at-bat
14:02and didn't do anything about it.
14:04I thought that was like, that's one of those moments when you're sitting in the press box
14:07and everybody's debating a play like that.
14:09I don't know.
14:10Just your thoughts on what happened in that play, and did they make the right call?
14:14Yeah, it's one of those words.
14:17Who's watching the game that intently that you notice that?
14:20That's right.
14:21So then you're waiting for the replay, and I think it even took the TV, at least in the press
14:27box,
14:27a minute to go back and look at what are they arguing here?
14:31Yeah.
14:31Yeah, I mean, Hedges was clearly correct.
14:34Durbin tapped the ball with his bat, probably just not even thinking about it.
14:39But the umpires had ruled it dead and said, I think they just told Hedges there was no play,
14:46and it wasn't something they could review.
14:47So, yeah, those are the things, too, that only happen in a one-run game.
14:54Yes.
14:54In a key moment, right?
14:56Like, would anyone have noticed if that happened in a 10-2 game in May?
15:03No.
15:06No.
15:06No.
15:07The other question was, what's the penalty?
15:10It's just, it's a batter's interference then, and then that's...
15:12I think it's 15 yards, and then you restart the down.
15:15Yeah.
15:16I don't know.
15:16I just thought it was interesting.
15:17Did you see that play when it happened?
15:19Yeah.
15:19It was weird, and you were just like...
15:22And another part of it that was weird was, like, Durbin was just kind of helping him out.
15:27And now, all of a sudden, you're like, hey, man, I know you were trying to help me out,
15:31but you can't do that.
15:33You know, it's just like...
15:34So then, are you being a whiner?
15:35You know, it's a weird spot.
15:37Think about, you know, Angel Hanau, right place, right time, on the final play of that game.
15:46And I'm thinking, we're all saying to each other in the press box, like, when have you
15:50ever seen that, where a second baseman has to rush over and tag first himself, because
15:55the first baseman isn't in position, and it's a one-run game, by the way, and, like,
15:59there's a runner who could have scored, potentially.
16:01And then you see it a second night in a row.
16:04Like, it's...
16:05Baseball's weird.
16:06It's fun, though.
16:07That's why we love it, right?
16:09It is.
16:10It's why we love it.
16:11All right, what do you got coming out on The Athletic?
16:13What do you got out there?
16:15Some fun stuff, if and when they clinch.
16:19This is, you know, you...
16:21Look, you spend eight months around these guys.
16:24You get to know them.
16:25You store up material, and if you're fortunate enough to cover a team that makes a run, you
16:31get to deploy all that.
16:32So, a lot of fun stuff coming on a number of different people and kind of their journeys
16:38here.
16:39And we'll see.
16:40You know, they could be spraying champagne in the smallest clubhouse in baseball tonight.
16:44Very nice.
16:45All right.
16:45Have fun, Zach.
16:46Make sure you bring your plastic wear, then, if they're spraying champagne.
16:51Yeah, I got to go find a poncho.
16:53You got it.
16:53Thanks, man.
16:54See ya.
16:55Thank you, Zach.
16:55All right.
16:55Make sure you read them every day.
16:57In The Athletic Key is Zach Marzell.
Comments